Set an example for the believers…in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)
God calls us to purity in two areas.
Watch your sexual purity. “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Tim. 2:22). Notice the word “flee.” Watch your life closely and if you see something unhealthy beginning to grow, then flee from it. Put distance between yourself and any source of sexual temptation you see bringing danger to your life.
You may need to distance yourself from a relationship. Change your route traveling home. Take a pass on joining your colleagues at a particular bar. Leave your small group. Exchange your smart phone for a “dumb” phone. Do whatever you need to do to get away from a situation in which you are likely to fall. A person who engages in sexual sin has not been watching his or her life.
Watch your purity with money. “Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Tim. 6:6-10).
Watch your life closely when it comes to the power of money. Mark Dever observed, “The amount of money does not have to be large for someone to love it. Even small amounts of money can work on small hearts.”
How do you monitor your life in regard to purity with money? Examine your giving. That will teach you about the power of money in your life.
What action do you need to take today? What is threatening your purity?
Go deeper on this topic by taking the free course Watch Your Life with Pastor Colin Smith.
